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The Makings of a Murderer, 3 Stars

The Makings of a Murderer
Adelphi Theatre and UK Tour
18th April, 2023

“What makes a serial killer tick? And are there ever tell-tale signs? Scottish detective David Swindle presents a chilling, thrilling, night at the theatre as he explores famous murder cases from the detective’s perspective – and the clues behind The Makings of a Murderer.“Serial Killers are cunning, conniving, controlling, careful and – I hate to say it – clever,” says David. “They live apparently normal lives and get away with their crimes for years… until eventually detected.” Hear about the Britain’s most infamous serial killers, including Jack the Ripper, Peter Tobin, Harold Shipman, Peter Sutcliffe and the ‘killer couples’ – Fred & Rose West and Moors Murderers Ian Brady & Myra Hindley. With more than 34 years experience as a senior detective, David Swindle shares his unique insight into the mind of a murderer, the famous cases that were never solved, and how murderers got away with it… from someone on the inside.David, whose ground-breaking Operation Anagram uncovered the activities of Peter Tobin, paints an often-dark picture of how these monsters come to be in a gripping, fully-interactive, audio-visual first. David also looks at the connections to the local area of the most famous murder cases.
The Makings of a Murderer is a chilling, thrilling, night at the theatre not to be missed.”

Review by Richard Lambert, 3 Stars

Such an interesting show! David Swindle is an accomplished storyteller with a lifetime’s experience of working in the field of tracking murderers. Humble and eloquent, he treads the boards flawlessly retelling these exeriences.

It’s all put-together to educate, entertain, intrigue, and lightly horrify. With a group of ladies behind me muttering “ooh, yes, I remember that” and the ladies in front me occasionally gasping, it was like an immersive version of GoggleBox and all rather fun.

The lighting was a little spotty in the 1st half but remedied in the 2nd. The sound was just right and the video projections enhanced the evening. With a wooden office desk and a couple of pin-boards, the main wall becoming the projection screen, we were in a period crime room and the evening trotted along at a good pace.

Clearly the British audience like all things scary and what better way than David Swindle to indulge our appetite for the macabre.

Further Information
David Swindle
With over 34 years police service mostly within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), David has been involved in hundreds of murder investigations and was at the forefront of implementing change and developing innovative national crime investigation processesHis work as Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) saw him managing high profile and challenging UK cross border investigations including the Glasgow Airport Terrorist Investigation and the murder of Polish student Angelika Kluk in Glasgow. He also formed Operation Anagram to investigate serial killer Peter Tobin’s involvement in other crimes.This activity attracted high profile media comment with extensive online coverage and a Chief Constable’s Commendation:“Following the terrorist attack at Glasgow International Airport on 30 June 2007, you provided drive and inspiration to members of the enquiry team working under incredibly intense difficult circumstances. Under the immense pressure of worldwide media scrutiny, you ensured that the excellent investigative reputation of the Force was upheld.”As Head of Strathclyde Police Public Protection and SIO, David was responsible for overseeing the investigation of crimes, mitigating risks and formulating policy regarding dangerous offenders, rape and serious sexual assault, vice and human trafficking, child protection and vulnerable persons. As a high profile senior police detective, he was involved in the innovative use of TV, online and social media regarding serious crime investigations; in particular, investigations of the serial killer Peter Tobin, which included creation of the groundbreaking BBC Crimewatch Operation Anagram website.Since retiring from the police and setting up David Swindle Crime Solutions in June 2011, his skills and strategic vision have been very much in demand by a variety of public and private sector organisations for investigative, advice and case review issues abroad and in the UK.Entertainers  (Producers)Entertainers have 20 years experience producing popular entertainment across the UK. Their new Canvey Island HQ, built since lockdown, houses all aspects of production from set building and maintenance to a recording studio and full-size rehearsal space and a fleet of 36 vehicles. Entertainers stage more than 1,500 separate performances each year, selling over one million seats, with 25 lavish productions that include: ‘Lost in Music’, ‘Fastlove’, ‘The Magic of Motown’,  ‘Cirque: The Greatest Show’, ‘Thank You for the Music’, ‘The Rocket Man’, ‘An Evening of Burlesque’, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’, ‘80s Live!’, ‘90s Live!’, ‘Radio Gaga’, ‘Sweet Caroline’, and ‘Islands in the Stream’, New shows ‘Do You Believe in Ghosts?’ and ‘The Makings of a Murderer’ mark a move away from music to scripted theatrical productions, and they will both make their West End debut at the Adelphi Theatre in 2023.

The Makings of a MurdererTuesday 18 April at 7.30pmADELPHI THEATREStrandLondon WC2R 0NS Box office: 020 7557 7300online: lwtheatres.co.ukage recommendation18+Social MediaFacebook: Facebook.com/TheMakingsOfAMRDRInstagram: Instagram.com/TheMakingsOfAMurdererTwitter: Twitter.com/MakingsOfMRDRYouTube: https://youtu.be/RN9HoXhTvEoThe Makings of a Murdereris also on a 100-date UK tour19 & 20 AprilThe Fire Station, Sunderland21 April Venue Cymru (North Wales Theatre), Llandudno22 AprilHelix Theatre Dublin25 April Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow27 April Stamford Corn Exchange9 MayVilla Marina, DouglasMay 11Playhouse, Whitley Bay12 May The Bridlington Spa17 May Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, Newport18 May Cambridge Corn Exchange19 May Winter Gardens Blackpool22 May Theatre Royal WindsorMay 25Coliseum Aberdare26 & 27 MayMast Mayflower Studios,Southampton1 June Grove Theatre Dunstable2 JuneSouth Holland Centre, Spalding3 JuneAshcroft Playhouse, Croydon8 June The Hawth Crawley15 JuneTown Hall, BirminghamJune 16Spa Pavilion Felixstowe

17 JuneBuxton Opera House20 JuneYvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford21 JuneGrand Theatre Wolverhampton22 JuneAlhambra Theatre, Dunfermline23 JuneSheffield City Hall24 JuneThe Old Savoy Northampton26 June Festival Theatre Edinburgh29 JuneEmpire Theatre Consett30 JuneMansfield Palace Theatre1 JulyRoyal Leamington Spa Theatre6 JulyRoyal Hall Harrogate9 JulyThe Auditorium Liverpool 16 JulyGrand Theatre Lancaster19 JulyTheatre Royal Lincoln21 JulyTyne Theatre Opera HouseNewcastle-Upon -Tyne22 JulyWebster Memorial Theatre Arbroath28 JulyCliffs Pavilion Southend29 JulyBabbacombe Theatre9 AugustLandmark Theatre, Ilfracombe11 AugustGranville Theatre Ramsgate

12 AugustChurchill Theatre Bromley13 AugustRegent Centre Christchurch1 SeptemberSwansea Grand2 SeptemberAltrincham Garrick Playhouse6 SeptemberFloral Pavilion Theatre, New Brighton8 SeptemberBedford Corn Exchange9 SeptemberThe Redgrave Theatre, Bristol11 SeptemberRegal Theatre Redruth13 SeptemberWatford Palace Theatre14 SeptemberTheatre Royal Nottingham15 SeptemberPalace Theatre Kilmarnock16 SeptemberCaird Hall – Dundee19 September Hull Truck Theatre21 SeptemberTown House Hamilton26 SeptemberEpic Studios Norwich27 SeptemberWyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar28 SeptemberBath The Forum3 OctoberCast in Doncaster4 October Dorking Halls5 OctoberWycombe Swan – High Wycombe6 OctoberLondon Indigo at the 02

7 OctoberKendal Leisure Centre10 OctoberPortsmouth Guildhall11 OctoberGordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage12 OctoberCorn Exchange Newbury13 OctoberWatersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth17 OctoberHartlepool Town Hall18 OctoberRoses Theatre Tewkesbury19 OctoberBlackwood Miners Institute20 OctoberThe Capitol, Horsham21 OctoberWalsall Arena and Arts Centre25 OctoberPalace Theatre Redditch26 OctoberMiddleton Arena27 OctoberScarborough Spa28 OctoberStafford Gatehouse Theatre29 OctoberWinding Wheel, Chesterfield1 NovemberPlayhouse Theatre Harlow2 NovemberBeck Theatre – Hayes3 NovemberMedina Theatre, Newport4 NovemberPlayhouse Theatre, Weston Super Mare9 NovemberThe Pavilion Theatre Rhyl10 November Dudley Town Hall

11 NovemberICC Wales, Newport12 NovemberQueen’s Theatre Barnstaple14 NovemberThe Cresset Peterborough15 NovemberPrincess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot16 NovemberExeter Northcott Theatre17 NovemberAlban Arena, St Albans18 NovemberWilliam Aston Hall Wrexham20 NovemberAssembly Rooms Tamworth23 NovemberTLT Theatre, Drogheda24 NovemberRoyal Theatre Castlebar25 NovemberThe Ulster Hall Belfast26 NovemberINEC, Killarney30 NovemberCharter Hall Colchester10 DecemberPlymouth Pavilions